Faculty Meeting Minutes

 

President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

President Glotzbach asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held December 5, 2014.  Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Glotzbach welcomed everyone back to the start of the new semester.  While everyone has been back teaching and working for a couple of weeks, this is the first time everyone has been together since the Academic Summit.  On behalf of Mary Lou Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, President Glotzbach provided a brief update on this year's admissions.  He reported that this year's applicant pool, which is now closed, is the second largest in our history, down 1.7 percent from our record last year.  This year's applicant pool includes students from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and 124 foreign countries.  This year's enrollment model projects a smaller class with a lower percentage of first-year students receiving grant assistance.  Last year, our yield on students offered financial aid jumped from our target of 42 percent to 47 percent.  As a result, this year, we are modeling a slightly smaller financial aid number of 38 percent and a smaller class of 655.   We continue to see increases in the percent of the applicant pool who self-identify as domestic students of color and international students.  Currently, 27 percent of the applicant pool represents students of color, in comparison to 24 percent last year.  The number of applications from international students has nearly tripled since 2012, with international students comprising 22 percent of this year's pool, compared with 20 percent last year.  Applications from United World College schools are also up slightly.  We have received 413 early decision applicants this year, in comparison to 460 last year (a decrease of 10 percent).  The demand for financial aid in early decision applicants continues to be higher than historically has been the case, and that is a trend that we will continue to see.  Decisions on the second round of early decision applicants will not be finalized until next week.  We still anticipate enrolling 35 to 40 percent of the class through early decision.  Vice President Bates will provide more information as the admissions process continues.

President Glotzbach reported that he and a number of others recently attended the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC.  As many know, the AAC&U is a major national education organization that has approximately 1,300 member institutions and is principally focused on thinking about liberal education, particularly liberal education in the 20th and 21st centuries.   AAC&U is also very interested in making the case for a liberal education to an audience beyond higher education.  This meeting was AAC&U's 100th meeting, and topics ranged from continuing work on their LEAP (Liberal Education and America's Promise) initiative to responsible citizenship in light of the perils facing democracy today.  These topics are also the subject of conversations we are having here at Skidmore as well.

President Glotzbach also reported that he attended the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) meeting in Washington, DC, for which he serves as a board member.  NAICU's member institutions include approximately the same number of private colleges and universities as AAC&U.  Although NAICU is strongly in the corner of liberal education, it focuses primarily on understanding and influencing Federal legislation and policy affecting higher education.   President Glotzbach stated that the annual Federal subsidy to higher education, largely in the form of aid to students and tax benefits to families, exceeds $170 billion.  In the 2014-15 academic year, Skidmore undergraduates will benefit from the Federal government in the amount approximating $10.4 million, in the form of direct student aid, Pell grants, student and parent loans, work study funding, etc.  He stated that it would take an additional $200 million in our endowment to equal that funding.

President Glotzbach went on to say that we are entering a legislative cycle right now where the Higher Education Act, which is the principal set of regulations that govern higher education, is due for reauthorization and renewal of all the financial investments, which makes up the $10.4 million that our students receive in Federal aid.  As a result of the reauthorization and renewal, there are more opportunities for things to change.  There are efforts underway in Congress to simplify or even eliminate some of the regulations that now apply to colleges and universities.

At the same time, the Obama administration, principally through the Department of Education, is becoming increasingly active in a number of areas again.  There is increased scrutiny on colleges and universities in the area of sexual- and gender-based misconduct, and the Office of Civil Rights is heavily involved in the enforcement of Title IX issues.   In the coming months, it is anticipated that Senator Gillibrand, among others, will introduce legislation to deal with this topic, which will have additional regulations proposed.

In addition, despite consistent and vigorous opposition from college and university presidents across the country, President Glotzbach stated that the Department of Education is still looking to a September, 2015 roll out for the new ratings system (government ratings of colleges).  There is, though, opposition to that in some places in Congress.  Further, he noted that the Department of Education is also preparing to announce a new set of regulations dealing with teacher education programs.  At this point, it is not clear whether the Department of Education is going to end up with these various initiatives, but the environment is still changing and there are a lot of things we need to pay attention to out there.  President Glotzbach indicated that he is not asking anyone to do anything but, as informed, responsible citizens, everyone should know what is going on in the larger world of higher education.

DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS' REPORT

Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed everyone back to for the spring semester. He announced that Marta Brunner will join Skidmore this summer as the next College Librarian. He thanked the members of the search committee and all those involved in the librarian search.

DOF/VPAA Breslin reported that this year's tenure-line searches are going very well. Five of the 14 searches having been completed so far. Everybody at some level is involved in these searches. The candidates feel Skidmore is an incredibly welcoming place, due largely because of everyone's attitudes and conversations with these candidates. This spring, we will conclude the remaining 9 searches, including the new Tang Chair in Chinese Studies. The search for the Tang Chair in Chinese Studies is a very complicated search, and the search committee (Pushi Prasad, Jeff Segrave, Crystal Moore, Paty Rubio, and DOF/VPAA Breslin) has started Skype interviews with the candidates. Associate Professor Ben Bogin and the department chairs for the individuals are joining the Skype interviews. Eighteen people have been chosen for Skype interviews, and we are about one-third the way through those. These candidates are typically more senior faculty, and they are very interested in coming to Skidmore. Skype interviews will be continuing through the month of February, and we hope to be in a position to offer the position to someone in by the end of the academic year.

Thereafter, DOF/VPA Breslin provided an update on the Middle States reaccreditation process. The five Middle States working groups provided their outlines at the end of January, and we are in the process of getting information and suggestions back to the working groups. The next stage is for the working groups to complete their narratives over the next month or so. We are right on target in terms of time. It has been very interesting and very exciting work.

DOF/VPAA Breslin reminded everyone about assessment. We have some really good assessment plans coming in. He encouraged anyone thinking about assessment to speak with Lisa Christenson, Assessment Coordinator. There are several departments that have used this assessment work to really reformulate their curriculum.  DOF/VPAA Breslin will be in touch with those departments who are a little less focused on assessment.

DOF/VPAA Breslin reported that a day-long retreat was held in mid-January with the academic leadership group and the department chairs and program directors. The conversations focused on cost-containment, letter writing led by Kyle Nichols as Chair of CAPT, general education reform led by Bill Lewis as Chair of CEPP, and the COACHE survey. With regard to cost-containment, although Skidmore is in great shape right now, we need to plan for several years down the road as to how we expend our resources. To that end, DOF/VPAA Breslin will be working with FEC to gather a group of faculty, members of his office, and the VPAA senior staff to see where there are places where we might want to rethink the allocation of resources. Referencing the COACHE data, DOF/VPAA Breslin encouraged everyone to read the report. Admittedly, there are some issues that we need to work on, and his office will be working with the Center for Leadership in Teaching and Learning to think about ways we can tackle some of those issues.

Finalizing his report, DOF/VPAA Breslin echoed President Glotzbach comments about AAC&U. He said that one of the best things about going to AAC&U is you realize how great Skidmore is, especially compared to other schools, and he thanked everyone for helping make Skidmore great. He reminded everyone that this year's Mosely Lecture, to be given by Professor Steve Stern titled "Creative Amnesia or the Persistence of Magic," will be held on Monday, February 26, 2015.

In closing, he re-introduced Nate Richardson, Area Coordinator in Residential Life, and Debbie Peterson, Executive Administrative Assistant, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

Faculty Executive Committee

On behalf of the Faculty Executive Committee (FEC), Professor Mehmet Odekon introduced the following Motion (see attached):

MOTION:  The Faculty Executive Committee proposes the following changes (off in red, on in blue) to the "Function" and "Membership" of the Faculty Executive Committee.

FACULTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (FEC) Elected Function: To act as the primary conduit of information and ideas into and out of the Faculty concerning all-College issues and policies; to oversee faculty governance and faculty participation in all-College governance. ; and to act as Faculty Observers of the Board of Trustees.

FEC fosters communication within the Faculty, via both reports to the Faculty Meeting and organization of other faculty discussion meetings and forums, about all-College issues and policies.  The chair of the FEC shall sit on the IPPC in order to strengthen communication between the two committees.  FEC, together with IPPC and SGA, is responsible for the proper constitution of all-College committees and subcommittees.

FEC is responsible for coordinating the faculty governance cycle faculty committee work and for furthering democratic representation and committee its efficiency.  FEC is responsible for ensuring the proper constitution of faculty committees:  it solicits nominations for, conducts elections for, and makes appointments to faculty and all-College committees; it provides advice and oversight of procedures regarding faculty appointments to search committees for senior administrative positions; and it maintains a list of all faculty members on all committees.  In addition, FEC reviews operating codes of all faculty committees and maintains files of annual committee reports, and FEC is responsible for ensuring that the text of the Faculty Handbook appears and remains precisely as approved by the Faculty.

FEC convenes the Committee of Committees (comprising faculty members of FEC, IPPC, CAPT, CAFR, CEPP, Curriculum Committee, FDC, and any current ad hoc committees whose presence FEC believes would be helpful to the Committee) at least twice a year to assess the interactions among member committees and between them and the administration, and to discuss ongoing issues and any problems in committee operations. FEC is then required to inform the Faculty at large of the issues raised by the Committee of Committees.

Finally, FEC posts Board of Trustee Meeting minutes on its web page. observes the on-campus meetings of the Board of Trustees, at the invitation of the Board, and reports its observations in writing to the Faculty. (In addition, CAPT, CAFR, and the Chair of CEPP meet annually with the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.)

Membership: Five Four members of the Faculty elected to serve three year terms.

There was no informational discussion concerning the Motion.  The Motion will lie over until the next meeting.

Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs

On behalf of the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Paty Rubio, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Personnel, Development, and Diversity, presented the following Motion (see attached):

MOTION: The Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs moves to approve the following recommendations with regard to non-tenure-track faculty, and accordingly, changes to the Faculty Handbook (see attached).

1) Reserve the designation of Visiting Assistant/Associate Professor (VAP) to a maximum three-year, non-renewable contract.  

2) Establish and define the rank of Teaching Professor to designate Visiting Professors whose contract is renewed for a minimum of an additional two-years.  

3) Formalize the reappointment criteria and length of service of VAPs resulting in the change of rank to that of Teaching Professor.  

4) Reserve the term of Lecturer for individuals who are not in possession of a terminal degree regardless of length of appointment or teaching load.

5) Create the rank of Senior Teaching Professor for eligible Teaching Professors who possess a terminal degree, the requisite credentials, and have taught at the institution in continued service for a minimum of six years.

6) Create the rank of Senior Lecturer for eligible Lecturers who possess the requisite credentials and have taught full-time at the institution in continued service for a minimum of six years. 

7) Formalize the reappointment process and criteria of Teaching Professors and full-time Lecturers to include institutional and departmental need, high quality teaching, and contributions to the affairs of the department/program and the institution.

8) Establish the process and criteria for promotion of Teaching Professors and full-time Lecturers to include department/program and institutional need, high quality teaching, and contributions to the affairs of the department/program and the institution.

9) Regulate the employment termination of individuals in Teaching Professor and full-time Lecturer ranks.

10) Grandfather long-term serving VAPs and full-time Lecturers into the new policy.

11) Eliminate the rank of Trustee Visiting Scholar.

Dean Rubio explained the rationale of the Motion, noting that this policy is long over-due and that it helps to define the status of these ranks, allows for advancement, and formalizes the reappointment and termination of contracts.  Some discussion was held regarding the wording used in the proposed language for the Faculty Handbook in terms of reappointment and promotion as compared to the language set forth in the Motion, that criteria for promotion was not defined so as to allow departments to set their own criteria and internal procedures, and whether these new ranks would require additional responsibility by the contingent faculty member towards the department, such as advising responsibilities.  This Motion will lie over until the next meeting.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A Committee of the Whole was held to discuss curriculum models proposed by the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP).  Professor Mehmet Odekon was appointed as chair of the Committee of the Whole.  A 20-minute time limit was set; upon request, an additional 5-minute time limit was set.  At the conclusion of the A Committee of the Whole was held to discuss curriculum models proposed by the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning (CEPP).  Professor Mehmet Odekon was appointed as chair of the Committee of the Whole.  A 20-minute time limit was set; upon request, an additional 5-minute time limit was set.  At the conclusion of the Committee of the Whole, Professor Odekon rose and reported that a discussion on CEPP's curriculum models was held.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• On behalf of the Faculty Development Committee, Professor Shirley Smith announced that the deadline for nominations for the prestigious Ciancio Award for Excellence in Teaching is Friday, February 20, 2015.  She encouraged everyone to submit nominations for their well-deserving colleagues.
• On behalf of CEPP, Associate Professor Bill Lewis announced that the report from the CEPP Subcommittee on Skidmore College Master of Arts in Liberal Studies has been issued (attached).  He thanked the members of the Subcommittee (Hope Castro, Luciane Beduschi, Ruth Copans, David Howson, Christine Kopec, Jacquie Scoones, and Jeff Segrave) for their service.  Associate Professor Lewis further indicated that, after consultation with the Dean of Special Programs and the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, it was decided that a moratorium would be placed on MALS admissions this year.  The report will now be taken to the Institutional Planning and Policy Committee to discuss whether or not any action will be taken on the report.
• Associate Professor Michael Arnush announced the Open Classroom project which will be offered this year during the week of February 23-27, 2015.  Once the full roster of classes is set, an email will be sent concerning the enrollment process. He encouraged everyone to sign up for a class to see what your colleagues are doing in the classroom.
• Professor John Anzalone introduced Nicky Tavares, as the new Visual and Digital Media Mellon Fellow.  A welcome reception will be held for Ms. Tavares on Thursday, February 12, 2015, and he encouraged everyone to attend.  He, thereafter, announced upcoming workshops and events for MDOCS and Project VIS.
• Paty Rubio, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Personnel, Development, and Diversity, announced that Professor Pushi Prasad will be the speaker for this spring's Research Colloquium, to be held on February 12, 2015.   Professor Prasad's presentation is entitled "Veiled Remarks: Identity Contests, Gender Dynamics and the Discourse of the Islamic Headscarf in the Scandinavian Workplace."  Dean Rubio encouraged anyone interested in attending to RSVP as soon as possible as there are only a few seats left.
• Professor Jim Kennelly announced that the Task Force on Divestment, which is composed of faculty, staff, students and members of the Board of Trustees to investigate issue of fossil fuel divestment, will hold an open meeting on February 25, 2015 at 1:00 and 6:00 to discuss the task force's work to date.  Further details will follow.
• Cori Filson, Director of the Off-Campus Study & Exchanges, announced a new online course approval system that will allow chairs, directors, and advisors to approve students' specific courses and overall academic plans.  Complete details with instructions will be sent shortly.
• Ian Berry, Director of the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, introduced Sarah Miller as the new Curatorial Assistant at the Tang.  He, thereafter, announced upcoming events at the Tang.
• President Glotzbach announced that his office will hold an open office hour on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• On behalf of the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs and Maria Lander, Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, Rochelle Calhoun invited everyone to the community reception immediately following the faculty meeting, to be held in the new Language Lab, in Room 426 in Palamountain Hall.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

 

Debra L. Peterson
Executive Administrative Assistant